PLAYWORKERS tasked with shaping the future of children’s play opportunities in Wales retreated into the forest to share their ideas.

Professionals from local authorities and children’s play associations in Wales headed into the heart of Caernarfon for their annual Playworkers’ Forum.

More than 50 participants got wet and wild developing new ideas to improve children’s play experiences at the event, organised by national play organisation Play Wales in association with partners including Glyndwr University.

Activities completed at the three-day event included creating environments for play, dynamic risk assessment, intervention and provocations on how and why children play.

Ben Tawil, Play and Playwork programme leader at Glyndwr University, was one of the hosts of the event.

He said: "Wales is miles ahead of the rest of the UK in having an entire workforce dedicated to improving children’s opportunities to play. Play is the way children and young people find out about themselves, each other and the world around them, it is how they learn who they are and who they want to be within their communities. By restricting this right we risk doing deep and enduring harm to our young.

"Playworkers work to safeguard, develop and provide opportunities for children to play. It’s the solid training and ideas generated at events like the Playworkers’ Forum that make this happen."

Playwork is a rapidly growing career area following the introduction of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Play Policy and the Children Act – combined with a growing emphasis on the health benefits of play.

Glyndwr University offers a full three year degree in Play and Playwork. As a result of its partnership with Play Wales it hosts one of the largest selections of literature on children’s play in Wales in its reference library.

For more details contact the Student Information Desk on 01978 293439 or Email Here